Fired CNN anchor Don Lemon sues Elon Musk over canceled X deal
Disgraced CNN anchor Don Lemon filed a lawsuit Thursday against X boss Elon Musk for refusing to pay him after a partnership with the social media platform got shelved.
Lemon, who was canned in March by Musk immediately after a contentious interview with the mogul, alleged breach of contract and using his name to drum up interest from possible advertisers, according to the complaint filed in San Francisco.
“This case is straightforward. X executives used Don to prop up their advertising sales pitch, then canceled their partnership and dragged Don’s name through the mud,” said Lemon’s attorney Carney Shegerian.
“You don’t have to be a genius to see the fraud, negligence, and reputational damage here. Don is an accomplished and hard-hitting journalist who’s committed to defending his good name and holding X’s executives accountable. We look forward to our day in court,” he added.
Lemon’s lawsuit alleges that he had agreed a one-year deal worth at least $1.5 million, as well as a 60% cut in ad revenue and performance-related bonuses based on how many followers his show picked up.
He also claims he was forced to give a speech praising the platform in front of possible advertisers.
Musk did not immediately comment on the lawsuit.
Lemon had reportedly demanded a $5 million upfront payment on top of an $8 million salary, and an equity stake in the social media platform to do the show.
He also apparently insisted on a free Tesla Cybertruck, a private jet to Las Vegas complete with a suite for him and his fiancé — and that the company pay for their day drinking and massages, as The Post exclusively reported.
The interview with Musk was supposed to serve as a launching point for Lemon’s new show on X.
But the testy sit-down, which including Lemon grilling Musk about hate speech on the platform, led to the billionaire calling Lemon’s agent to tell him the deal was off.
Musk slammed Lemon in a social media post on March 13, saying he had decided to ax the project because its host “lacked authenticity.”
He said Lemon’s approach was “’CNN, but on social media,’ which doesn’t work, as evidenced by the fact that CNN is dying.”
The former “CNN This Morning” anchor was fired in April 2023 after a series of on-air controversies, including his infamous claim that GOP presidential candidate Nikki Haley was not “in her prime” — and should not comment on the age of other politicians.
He also clashed with co-host Kaitlan Collins, allegedly “screaming” at her off-camera in an incident that led her to run out of the studio, as The Post previously reported.
